Update (16th april 2010)

2010 GAMES

Virtual CityVirtual City takes good aspects from previous city builders and combines them into an effective package. The resource chains are complex enough to keep the game interesting, but simple enough to reduce confusion of newcomers. The interface helps the learning process, clearly displaying what each truck is transporting and areas of the map that need attention. I’d like to have a comprehensive list of all buildings and auto-bulldoze trees when placing new structures, but these are minor complaints overall(…)Fans of economic city builder games will find great value for $10.8.5 from Out of Eight website

Royal Envoy The lure of trophies provides good reason to go back and replay levels for better times, which helps extend this game’s already impressive length. And I’ll take any excuse to head back in and construct a few more villages in this great little city builder- 8.0 from Gamezebo

Rise of PrussiaIf you like any of AGEOD’s previous efforts, then you will like Rise of Prussia. If you hated any of AGEOD’s previous efforts, then you will hate Rise of Prussia. If you were intimidated by any of AGEOD’s previous efforts, Rise of Prussia is a good place to start- 7.5 from Gamezebo

Empires of SteelAs strategy games seem to increasingly favor more complexity, it’s nice to play a game that is a bit more straightforward. Empires of Steel is that clear-cut, and the turn- based game is a good choice for novices. The interface is effective, clearly indicating idle units and buildings, while the graphical style if nice to look at. The game does come with some nice customization features, like editors for maps and the game rules, and randomized map layouts always increase replay value. The AI is a competent opponent, though typically not terribly aggressive. The game is really designed for multiplayer, so it’s too bad that there aren’t very many people online to play against. – 7.5 from Out of Eight website<

Patrician IV
New entry in one of the best managment games series of all time (Patrician III scored 9.3 at IGN).

Heroes of Graxia
Board-game like strategy title from Petroglyph (makers of Star Wars: Empire at War)

Eden’s Quest: The Hunt for Akua ReviewThere’s a great variety to the puzzles that are thrown at you over the course of the game and, despite the occasional frustration, Eden’s Questis both fun and beautiful. It evens ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, which suggests we haven’t seen the last of Ms. Eden Hunt.- 8.0 from Gamezebo

Deep Blue Sea 2Many of the upgrades and additions in Deep Blue Sea 2 are well thought out and smartly implemented. The effort The Game Equation put into actually figuring out areas it could improve upon is something I’d like to see mirrored in more casual title sequels. It’s a fun game that goes far beyond slapping another set of levels on the same old mechanics.- 9.0 from Gamezebo

Dark Parables: Curse of the Briar Rose Dark Parables: Curse of Briar Rose will only take you about three hours to finish, but waking Sleeping Beauty unlocks Hard Mode, and the Collector’s Edition offers extra side puzzles, too. The final showdown seems to come out of left field, but it’s the sole knock against an otherwise marvelous game that’s worthy of your attention.- 9.0 from Gamezebo

Nora Roberts: Vision in WhiteAside from these issues, which are minor in the face of everything the game does right, Nora Roberts: Vision in White is a solid choice for hidden object game fans that don’t mind being challenged a little.- 8.0 from Gamezebo

Treasure Seekers: Follow the GhostsTreasure Seekers: Follow the Ghosts is an exceptional game that certainly raises the bar for HOGs in terms of visual appeal and good gameplay. Big fans of HOGs shouldn’t miss it, and it might be good enough to make a convert out of someone skeptical about the genre. This is the rare game that can offer real challenge on Advanced without being pointlessly confusing. Played on Normal, it’s a perfectly seamless casual experience.- 8.0 from Gamezebo

Magic Encyclopedia 3: IllusionsMagic Encyclopedia 3: Illusions should satisfy fans of casual adventure games who enjoy searching for “fractured” objects that all have a purpose rather than laundry lists of random clutter. And while the game does have a satisfying ending, the door is left open for even more adventures to come.- 8.0 from Gamezebo

The Dream Voyagers The Dream Voyagers is also just bursting with personality. Its cartoony style is eye-pleasing, colorful, and charming, making it a pleasure to tour around the dreamscapes of the townsfolk. Everything about the game is clever, charming, and polished, which brings me to my one sole complaint – there’s just not enough of it. Well, that’s not really true. The game itself will take you about three hours to finish, but the Bonus Rounds and Déja vu mode – which lets you replay completed levels – add an hour or two onto that. But I wanted more, just the same. Call me greedy if you like, but I blame it on GameHouse for making something so darn fun.- 8.0 from Gamezebo

The Lost Cases of 221B Baker StreetArmchair sleuths who enjoy HOGs and other head-scratching puzzles will find this detective adventure a gratifying download.- 8.0 from Gamezebo

Mahjongg Dimensions DeluxeSmall technical quibbles and missed opportunities aside, Mahjongg Dimensions Deluxe offered up a wonderful new experience in the traditionally tried-and-true world of mahjong solitaire. Massive three dimensional puzzles that force you to spin the playing field offer up a new challenge all on their own, and the addition of a swift but fair timer means that the game remains challenging even when you’ve mastered its unique twist. Mahjong fan should stand up and take notice – this is the biggest thing to happen to the genre in a long time.- 8.0 from Gamezebo

Starters Orders 4If you are looking for a horse simulation, Starters Orders 4 is a good choice. The game features all of the options needed for a complete sports management game, only in equine format (…) Starters Orders 4 delivers good value for fans of the genre. People not interested in horse racing will be bored to death here, but if the prospect of raising and racing a cavalcade of horses is interesting to you, then Starters Orders 4 wins the roses.7.5 from Out of Eight website

Cyber-WingCyber-Wing is successful at what it attempts to do: bring Herzog Zwei into whatever century this is with 3-D graphics and online multiplayer(…)Those looking for a more action-oriented approach to strategy gaming should check it out.8.5 from Out of Eight website

Plain Sight UKPlain Sight is a collection of lovely ideas presented with flair and character, and if it could tighten up its fussy controls a little it’d have a good chance of being one of those break-out indie hits that quietly earn its creators a deserved fortune. The currently small number of servers and the relatively hardcore-favouring rich-get-richer nature of the combat are probably telling signs of its destiny – adored by a few, ignored by the many. The price is right and the robo-ninja carnage is guaranteed, however.- 8.0 from IGN

A Kingdom for KeflingsIf you’re in the mood for a laid-back game with serious depth, A Kingdom For Keflings is the perfect choice. NinjaBee’s downloadable world-building game is whimsical, humorous, unique and has none of the high-pressure feel of your typical strategy game. Although it has some presentation quirks, Keflings rises above them to achieve a Zen-like quality of pleasant addiction.- 8.5 from IGN

2 evil eyes for Left 4 Dead 2
Five maps long beaitiful campaign set in swamps.

Deadly Dispatch for Left 4 Dead 2
“The survivors find themselves holding out above a small garage. They must fight there way through the dark urban area’s and reach the local evacuation station located in warehouse seized by CEDA. ”

Rome Medieval for Rome: Total War
“Rome Medieval converts the original RTW game to a medieval game,with medieval environment,units,maps,battles and gameplay.the time range is from 1180 AD to the last days of the medieval age”

GlobetrottersA one-button multiplayer game that is intended for release on the iPad, although a fully-featured build is already available online for everyone to play. Up to four players can participate in a game, and it is a race to see who gets to a thousand points first.-Indiegames

NicemetalA tower defense game with an interesting gimmick, originally created by babarageo for distribution at Comiket 76. There are a number of unmanned defensive structures in each map, and you have to send out soldiers to operate them for a short amount of time before they’d return back to base.-Indiegames